For the birds - YouLookFab Forum

On another warm summer day, I opted to layer with a sleeveless outfit for the outdoors part of my commute, and a heavier layer for the air-conditioned office. Everything is all official for my start date as an internal employee on Monday, and the announcement was made to my team, so I felt very light and happy. What could be more appropriate than a bird-themed outfit?

I paired a new sleeveless Daniel Rainn blouse from the Nordstrom Rack (black, with a swan print, and with a beautiful lace overlay in back photographed in #4-5) with a black knit skirt, orange pumps, chevron patterned owl necklace, and denim jacket.

One change to my day that's coming up: with my transition to an internal employee, I've been asked to work a shift that starts at 9:30 AM. This is so different for me - I haven't even started as late as 8:00 AM for 5 years, and the last time I had a schedule this late in the day was early on in college! I'm used to getting out early in the afternoons too. With some adjustments, though, I think I can make it work. I'm thinking that I will work out and run errands in the morning. I'll have an easy time eating breakfast and packing lunch, but dinner prep will be challenging - perhaps I'll have to come up with meals that I can start in the morning, or rely more often on crock-pot dishes when it's my turn to cook. And it won't be so much of a challenge missing much of the day if I have an early-morning medical appointment.

Do any of you have good strategies for coping with a late work schedule?

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12 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

No about advice on a late schedule but a big Yes for your outfit!

Suz

Terrific outfit, Kari! So glad it is working out on the employment front.

I like your crockpot ideas for supper. You can also do stuff like salads and have the protein component prepared in advance and everything all washed and ready to go. Soups will work, obviously, in cooler weather. Another trick we do is make more than we need one night and just have leftovers, sometimes prepared slightly differently. Stir fries also work great -- you have it all cut up ahead of time and then it goes quickly.

Caro in Oz

What Suz said - I make double whatever I can when I cook & freeze half.
Stir-frys are good too 10 mins max if the veggies are washed & the meat/fish is marinating.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

You are becoming quite the Arty Eclectic, Kari. I like the addidtion of the earthy tones to your rainbow palette. Fab as always. Great whimsical owl with the swan theme. Fun to see you post again.

I like to cook extra and pop a portion in the deep freeze so that I can take out and defrost on a hectic day. We don't ever order take-out food. Some stuff freezes better than other stuff so you have to be careful. Good food is very important in our household so I do go to the effort of cooking in advance so that we don't sacrifice eating well.

Amazon Fresh for groceries. Truly. I don't use them because I love to grocery shop (it's one of the ways I can relax), and have very specific places where I like to buy certain things. But my friends do think it's outstanding. You can order bread from the Macrina Bakery and fish from Pikes Place Market via Amazon Fresh these days. It's incredible. Deliveries and service are impeccable.

Beth Ann

Great outfit, full of both polish and fun, both of which suit you to a t.

Best wishes on Monday! I'm a night owl, so I'd love your hours. I end up teaching several days until about 7pm, so I've become an expert in quick cooking and batch cooking, and am renewing my relationship with my slow cooker. My kids often hear "We're eating Italian," which means, we're eating on a Continental schedule!

Nadya

When I had a longer commute a couple years ago, I used Dream Dinners. ( http://dreamdinners.com/main.p.....8;state=WA) They help you make ahead freezer meals that are simple to cook. We found them healthy (for the most part - there is a variety so you can indulge) and tasty. Since there are just two of us I'd typically get the three person servings and take the third serving for lunch (or we'd eat it if we were extra hungry.) I liked that since I made them myself I could adjust the seasoning, and in an hour and a half or so I could prep about 12 meals.

A bonus for me was that since the main was so easy, I got more creative with vegetable side dishes.

And, again, congrats!

lyn*

Congratulations!

And what lovely birdies You know how much I love an animal print!

Debra

Another congratulations and a lovely outfit. You look great

Anonymous

Love this outfit!

Lisa

Congrats on the job. I often work long hours (8-8) so I cook on the weekends and only reheat during the week. I usually cook 2-3 meals at a time so I am not cooking all weekend and one of those is almost always in a crockpot. I also cook egg casserole dishes and cut a piece to heat up for breakfast during the week.

celia

Another perfect outfit. Happiness suits you
I love the way the color of the shoes almost bookends your hair color.
I remember those days of long hours and sadly I bungled it in the food department. I am sure you will do way better.

ramya

You look fab Kari
And congrsts:)

We eat dinner at Indian time. Which means at around 9:30 pm at our home.
I stsrt cooking st 8:)

What helps me is I chop the veggies over weekend and put them in airtight box and into freezer when I have time.
With indian cooking all I have to do is chop some onion and tomato fry them up and dunk in the defrosted veggies.

So preping food in advance helps me.aldo shopping once a week for grocery which basically means I have the dinner planned out for a week

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